Yes, we still have our problems and, yes, the renaissance must extend to those neighborhoods that still struggle. But no longer are we paralyzed by negativity and cynicism. There's been a positive shift in attitudes, most notably among longtime locals — some of whom have a reputation for being down on their hometown.

TNS Global documents that shift in recent surveys that show the percentage of local residents who would recommend Cleveland as a visitors destination has jumped from 34% in 2013 to 77% in 2016.

Key to keeping those good vibes going is engaging and investing in young professionals. These millennials — those born between 1981 and 1997 — are now the largest living generation in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Last week, I had the privilege of talking with a dozen members of the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, a nonprofit that provides young professionals with opportunities to connect and grow through more than 100 social, networking, philanthropic and educational events.

The club's "CEO Dinner" is a monthly event where 12 young professionals meet with a business person in town. I was honored to be their guest, but much more interested in listening than talking.

I was encouraged to hear the words these young professionals used to describe our town: Authentic. Manageable. Lots of opportunities. Fiercely loyal. Gritty and real. Cool. What I found was a group taking advantage of what our region has to offer, connecting with their surroundings and acting as ambassadors.

Demetri Kachevas, a business travel sales coordinator at the downtown Ritz-Carlton, came here from Minneapolis more than a year ago. He was admittedly a bit leery about the move. He was pleasantly surprised, though, to find how much Northeast Ohio has to offer. "You literally have everything, whether it's the foodie scene, the Metroparks, the corporations," he said. "Anything I want to do, I'll find it in the Cleveland area."

We literally have everything, Demetri. You're one of us now.

Cleveland today is far different from the city Carly Boyd moved to in 2011. The Dublin, Ohio, native has seen the city's transformation firsthand and is impressed. "I'll still always have my loyalties to Columbus," said Boyd, secretary of the 20/30 Club and a family practice lawyer in town. "But it's a different world. There's not as much culture down there."

Michael Fitzpatrick, director of engagement for the Boy Scouts of America Lake Erie Council, took the time to follow up with an email. He came here from Hartford, Conn., and has moved several times for work, arriving in Cleveland a year ago.

"No matter how experienced one becomes at relocating, certain realities are inescapable. Relationships do not travel with you. While social media and technology bridge the divide, ultimately you arrive as a stranger in a strange land: devoid of the connections that are the bulwark against loneliness and ennui or which aid professional success. If it's 'all about who you know,' then surely nothing shakes the etch-a-sketch of life quite like knowing no one," he wrote.

That's why a group like the 20/30 Club is so valuable, he said.

"Inquisitive, bright and talented people will always seek out their own, and it's in our best interests as a society to make sure we have a place that calls them together and leverages their energy," Fitzpatrick wrote.

And it's in all of our best interests to establish relationships with young professionals, to assure that they're not a stranger in a strange land for long.

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